Safe
The legs of the chair I am slumped in scrape against the cold tile floor with a sharp, metallic shriek. ‘Hey, don’t get too rough. You’re gonna scare her.’ If I weren’t still in shock, I would probably roll my eyes. As if a little jolt like that was enough to freak me out. Yet I can’t bear to drag my gaze away from the … Continue reading Safe
you had your first psychotic break at seventeen
before you died you asked if mobile phones and mugs of water could conjure swarms of bees you said you’d seen it happen and to reproduce your findings you lodged ceramic in the walls Pliny the Elder too believed bees were born immaculately rising from the bodies of slaughtered calves and I wonder if neo-neo-classicists will prove Pliny right with the discovery of Astomi ——those … Continue reading you had your first psychotic break at seventeen
Eilean Donan
There is a painting that hangs above the fireplace in my living room. It is perched just above the thick, wooden mantelpiece, which is home to a collection of family treasures. There’s a small piece of ancient pottery from Pompeii, picked up on my parents’ honeymoon, and a handmade vase from a market in my mother’s home-town. But the painting has always been my favourite. … Continue reading Eilean Donan
The Orb of Desecration
The whispers clambered over each other. A collection of long-lost voices that roiled and rose to a cacophonous, multitudinous scream. The sourceless scream rang through the cavernous chamber. ‘Get OUT!’ Baran looked up. His wide, armoured frame was outlined by a soft light which emanated from the centre of the tomb. The large man yelled out a response to the voices. ‘We heard you the … Continue reading The Orb of Desecration
Core of Me
Sometimes I feel like I have no core and instead of the normal things, the human things, like happiness and comfort, understanding and growth, that cavity inside my chest is just filled with tears and hurt and fear and anger, and every word that someone has ever said to me. Sometimes the words are nice, Sometimes, feeling coreless is nice. No complexities, just a numb … Continue reading Core of Me
‘It’s not that simple’: The Truth Behind the Statement
‘It’s not that simple’. ‘It’s easier said than done’. Sound familiar? Do you ever wonder where you would be if you didn’t constantly limit yourself by reinforcing these statements? It’s often easy to fall into the trap of self-victimisation, and contrary to popular belief, this does more harm than good. One can look at any situation in two ways: from an angle of losing or … Continue reading ‘It’s not that simple’: The Truth Behind the Statement
Head Swollen
Icy air cruelly brought me into wakefulness. My eyes ached. The covers lay across my face, smothering me. My brain felt like it could push out of my ears at any moment. I rubbed my face, trying to squeeze out some of the pressure that had built inside my skull overnight, but it had little effect. It was always like this on cold mornings. My … Continue reading Head Swollen
Late Bloomer
Spring is the time for blooming, but my petals remain furled. The media is constantly proving, I don’t fit the norms of this world. It’s all about your sex appeal, and who you’re gonna date. The pressure to conform is real, when the norm is to be straight. ‘I’m just a late bloomer,’ I think, after another year alone. Perhaps a visit to the shrink? … Continue reading Late Bloomer
What is at the Core of Mental Wellness?
Mental wellness is the ability of an individual to be aware and mindful of their thoughts and understand that they can influence emotions and behaviours. From a psychological perspective, this is known as a cognitive-behavioural model of wellbeing. In other words, a mentally healthy individual can monitor and regulate their thoughts to achieve the desired emotional and behavioural response (Neenan 2017). This definition of mental … Continue reading What is at the Core of Mental Wellness?
How to Say Goodbye
Her name haunts me. I see it in everything—the news, my feed, my room. I see her eyes peering at me from pictures, questioning why I didn’t go with her. Why didn’t I answer the phone? Why didn’t I say goodbye? I never have an answer. I am forever consumed by our last words—weapons, daggers we used to spite each other, unaware that one of … Continue reading How to Say Goodbye
WORDLY Magazine 